An overcast October morning didn’t cut down the fun I had with Boise High senior Jesse last autumn in the least! From tossing leaves around Kathryn Albertson Park to balancing on precarious ledges in the Linen District to a few family photos overlooking that classic Boise skyline view from Depot Hill, we all had a blast. Favorites below as always!

I’m pretty sure Emily had some of the most gorgeous senior photos of the season! Downtown grunge is getting harder and harder to find as Boise continues to spiff up the city, but the Linen District and a gritty alley by the Record Exchange worked perfectly for her portrait session. The Military Reserve Park at Cottonwood Creek and Freestone Creek provided a beautiful natural look for the second half of the session, too. Highlights below!

We wandered all over downtown Boise for Maya’s senior session, hitting up iconic bridges, historic buildings, and grungy Linen District favorites for gorgeous urban looks with just a little nature too. Check out some favorites below and take a look at older sister Ryann’s photos from the previous year here!

Actors Karissa and Mark have phenomenal headshot modeling game individually, but put this power couple together for a few fun non-headshots and the world will never be the same! Enjoy a few favorites from their winter session in the Linen District below, and if you want to see more of these two, check out their Hawaii wedding and Trash the Dress session.

As an on-location portrait photographer, one of the most common questions I get asked is how to pick a good portrait spot. At the end of the day, it’s all about what sort of portraits you’re looking for–do you want a classic elegant look, a grungy hip style, a serene natural vibe?–but if you’re looking for more specific ideas, this is the blog entry for you – newly updated as of August 2015!

What makes a good
portrait location?

You can find a good portrait location anywhere, and I’m not just saying that! If you look at portraits shot from the waist or neck up, you’ll realize that in most cases, you can’t even tell where the portrait was shot. We shot the photo at left by the Boise River in Eagle, but since the focus is on the model, the background blurs into the background – it could have been anywhere.

Light is usually a far more important factor than location when it comes to getting beautiful results, so if you’re concerned about picking a location that’s just right, don’t be! As long as you pick a good time of day for your session (usually starting a couple hours before sunset, or shortly after sunrise if you’re an early bird), a spot that will give you a few options for shade (locations out in the open with no shady areas can be difficult), and a variety of textures (brick walls, trees, bushes), you’re bound to get great photos.

Want to make sure your full-length portraits have a stunning background? Read on for four whole pages on my favorite spots in the Treasure Valley!